A (Former) Boston Local’s List of Things to Check Out Around ATA66

This post is a reblog, originally published on Olivia Caputo’s blog. It has been republished with permission from the author.

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I’m looking forward to my first ATA conference in Boston this year. And not just because there are lots of people I’m excited to meet in person, but also because Boston was the first place I lived after college. I spent two years in Cambridge and two in Somerville, but for those who know Boston, these places are an important part of its metro area.

Not only did I live there when I took my first full steps into real adulthood, but I’m from Massachusetts originally. I grew up in Ashland, which is a very small town (right next to the much bigger, better-known Framingham). Ashland is approximately 26.2 miles west of Boston. I know that because the original starting line for the Boston Marathon is in Ashland – though it’s since been moved to neighboring Hopkinton (our high school sports rivals). It wasn’t until I got to college that I realized Marathon Monday wasn’t a nationwide holiday (it’s also Patriots Day, FYI) because there was no way they were sending us to school on a day when half the roads in town seemed to close so that fresh-faced and eager runners could barrel down them, still fifteen or so miles from hitting the evocatively named Heartbreak Hill.

But I digress. I figured since the capital of my home state (and my home for four years) is about to welcome a bunch of translators from far and wide, I’d share a few of my favorite places to go and things to do there. Some will take you further from the newly developed Seaport District, where the conference is being held. But I think it’s worth it to get out of an area that was underwater not too long ago and lacks some of the history and character that other neighborhoods provide. That said, I’ve included a few Seaport recs as well, in case you’re too wary of venturing down into one of America’s oldest subway systems.

As a caveat, know that this list is fully biased towards my preferences, but if you’re reading a native’s list of recs, maybe that’s to be expected. It doesn’t include some things like the Museum of Fine Arts or a tour of Fenway (the oldest active ballpark in the MLB!) because you can find those on pretty much any list. Also, I’m a vegan (and have been vegetarian over half my life), so if you’re looking for Boston’s best steak, I cannot tell you where to find it. With that covered, let’s dive into the fun and food I recommend checking out while you’re in Boston if you find the time.

 

Fun

Museums/Culture

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

The site of a famous art heist in 1990, this museum (my favorite in Boston) displays the work of collector Isabella Stewart Gardner, who was a world traveler and friend of John Singer Sargent. The collection is vast and impressive, the building housing it is gorgeous, and the policies are incredibly quirky. For example, anyone named Isabella gets in for free. And you can still see the empty spots on the wall where the paintings were stolen from.

Mapparium

Oddly enough, this exhibit is located at a Christian Science Center, the Mary Baker Eddy library. But you can pay to go inside its Mapparium, a stained-glass globe that welcomes visitors with a short presentation on the context and geopolitics that shaped it and a chance to play around with some fun auditory effects that come from being on a bridge in the middle of a glass sphere. It’s an odd, intriguingly immersive experience and one I love introducing to friends who visit from out of town.

Museum of Science

This is a great spot especially if you’re bringing kids. I remember spending a lot of Saturdays here with my grandmother growing up. Between exhibits with local relevance (like the one they had on the Big Dig when I was a kid), the immersive omni theatre, and the Rube Goldberg machine, this museum will always hold a place in my heart. It’s also the departure point for Boston’s famous Duck Boat Tours.

Tea Party Ships and Museum

Plunge into history at the Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum (also an unofficial landing place for local actors, which included many friends of mine). This experience takes you on a tour led by a real historical character from revolutionary Boston, who will tell you all about the U.S.’s bid for independence. And yes, you can throw some fake tea into the channel (not quite the harbor). It’s another good one for kids but a little bit pricier than a standard museum.

Boston Public Library

The BPL’s central location is in Copley Square. They often have exhibits that you can check out or you can just enjoy the Italianate Renaissance architecture.

 

Parks and Green Spaces

Public Garden/Boston Common

The Boston Common is the oldest public park in the nation. Stretching out from the State House, this green space is a nice spot to stroll through, though it’s not actually that large. It’s right next to the public gardens, a more curated space with ponds, bridges, and statues, including an homage to Make Way for Ducklings. You can get in a swan boat or simply walk around and enjoy the nature and autumn foliage. If you want some scenery, head north from the Common into Boston’s Beacon Hill, arguably its most picturesque neighborhood with narrow brick streets and gorgeous apartment buildings.

Walk along the Esplanade

The Esplanade is an extended park that runs alongside the Charles River. It’s a great place to walk or run, with ample footpaths past the bridges, boat houses, and playgrounds that line it.

Arnold Arboretum

If you’re willing to go a bit further afield to get a fix of nature, the Arnold Arboretum (run by Harvard) is a beautiful place to visit and really commune with the trees. After all, Massachusetts is home to Thoreau and Emerson.

 

Shops and Activities

Newbury Street

Newbury Street is lined with shops and boutiques, both big and small. Highlights include Trident Booksellers & Café and Second Time Around, where you can thrift clothing.

Brattle Book Shop

This is one of the oldest and largest used bookstores in America. Browse inside or out.

 

Cambridge

Harvard Square

The oldest university in the U.S. (noticing a trend yet?), Harvard is famous for everything from its presidential alumni to its starring role in Legally Blonde. Head across the Charles on the Red Line to check out Harvard Square, an area full of students, shops, and several parks. It’s the best place to learn that, despite what you may have heard, you cannot “pahk a cah in Hahvahd Yahd.”

 

Somerville

Sacco’s Bowl Haven/American Flatbread

If you want to engage in a local tradition, head further from downtown to check out some candlepin bowling. This variation, which uses smaller balls and narrower pins, is very much a part of New England culture, and it’s my preferred way to bowl. Sacco’s Bowl Haven in Davis Square is a great place to try it out. It’s also attached to American Flatbread pizza company. Reservations recommended.

 

Brookline

Coolidge Corner

Time to head west of the city. Coolidge Corner is a chill area with options for dining and drinks as well as the famous Coolidge Corner Theater, an Arthouse Cinema that’s been in operation since 1933.

Brookline Booksmith

Near Coolidge Corner is Brookline Booksmith, an independent bookstore that hosts frequent signings and events.

 

Food

Myers+Chang

This South End restaurant offers delicious Asian fusion and sharing plates. A spousal collab between Christopher Myers and Joanne Change (both also of Flour Bakery fame, mentioned later on this list), this place offers bold flavors and creative takes on Asian staples. Not to be missed for foodies.

South End Buttery

With two locations in the South End (on Shawmut Ave and Clarendon Street), this is a great place to grab breakfast or lunch. They have delicious baked goods, cater to dietary restrictions, and are a favorite among artists performing at the nearby Calderwood Pavilion, where some of Boston’s best home-grown theatre often debuts (and where I did a stint as a stagehand).

Fox & the Knife

I’ll admit I’ve never been here, but this trendy Italian eatery is one of my Boston friend (and current New York roommate)’s favorite spots to go whenever she’s in town. I trust her opinion when it comes to food.

J.P. Licks

While this ice cream chain has locations all over eastern Mass, the J.P. in its name stands for Jamaica Plains, the Boston neighborhood where it was first founded. Luckily, there’s a location just a twenty-minute walk from the Convention Center. For those who, like me, don’t do dairy, there’s also a FoMu in the Seaport area, which I’ll talk about later.

Carrie Nation

Moving slightly further North (just past the Commons), if you’re looking for cool places to get a cocktail, I recommend Carrie Nation. Its name and aesthetics are a nod to the Prohibition era, and the back bar is a great place to get a cocktail, shoot some pool, and chat with fellow linguists.

Omni Parker House

If you want something that’s less a nod to history and more history itself, check out the Omni Parker House. The hotel dates back to 1855 and the structure to 1927. Plus, it’s the home of the original Boston Cream Pie, and you can still get one there today. The Last Hurrah is a whiskey bar attached to the hotel, where there’s also a restaurant.

Mike’s Pastry

Officially heading into the North End, Mike’s Pastry is a very famous Italian pastry shop and remains the site where I’ve seen the most cannoli ever in one place. Lines can get long, so if you’re not picky about touristy fame, Modern Pastry is right nearby and has an equally delicious offering. Speaking of sweet treats, the North End is also the site of the famous (and tragic) Molasses Flood of 1919. They say on hot summer days, you can still smell molasses in this area.

Night Shift Brewing

Night Shift has its main taproom in Everett, MA, but they have locations in Boston, including a taproom in Lovejoy Wharf and a Beer Garden on the Esplanade further west. I used to love meeting up with friends at the latter location, which overlooks the Charles River. As a bonus, you’ll often have some food trucks show up there, and it’s a great spot to dog-watch.

 

Cambridge

Toscanini’s

We’re heading into my old stomping grounds of Cambridge, famously the actual location of Harvard University. Toscanini’s is, hands-down, my favorite ice cream in Boston (as a note, I was only vegetarian at the time). I think it’s worth a trip to Cambridge for this alone, but there’s plenty more to do there, so I’d say hop a ride on the Red Line or the (new-ish) Green Line extension. And yes, unlike New York, you do refer to train lines in Boston by their color.

Café Luna

My absolute favorite brunch spot. Their French toast is incredible, and since I don’t eat that anymore, you might need to do it for me.

Urban Hearth

This is just south of Davis Square, which is in Somerville. This farm to table restaurant is small but mighty. They combine delicious, fresh produce with superb flavors to make food that tastes and feels great.

 

In the Seaport

Institute of Contemporary Art

This modern art museum also boasts a beautiful view of the harbor in addition to interesting exhibits.

Flour Bakery + Café

The closest thing that Boston has to a cult may be fans of Flour Bakery. Luckily, there are two locations in the Seaport. Order ahead because it can get very busy at lunchtime, but you really can’t go wrong with anything on the menu. As a bonus, I’ve had several friends work here, and they all have nothing but good things to say about Joanne Chang, the owner and head baker.

Trillium or Harpoon

For fans of beer, the Seaport has a few options for taprooms. Trillium has a location in Fort Point, just north of the conference location. And Harpoon’s headquarters are solidly in the Seaport. You can tour the Harpoon facilities or just visit their taproom, which has lots of draft options as well as some delicious pretzels.

Lawn on D

This outdoor venue has a bar, swings, ping pong tables, and other lawn games. It’s a tiny bit of Instagram bait, but it’s also a nearby outdoor space where you can go unwind after a long day of sessions.

Fan Pier Park

A nice place to sit on some benches and look out onto the harbor.

Boqueria

If you’re looking for some Mediterranean food, Boqueria offers Catalan tapas in a place named for Barcelona’s most famous market.

Bon Me

A great place to grab a quick bite for lunch. Vietnamese-inspired sandwiches and other fare.

FoMu

For non-dairy ice cream lovers, FoMu offers all-vegan ice cream (coconut base) in a variety of seasonal flavors.

Boston Children’s Museum

If you’re traveling with kids, the Seaport is Home to the Boston Children’s Museum, recognizable thanks to the giant bottle of milk outside its entrance. While I’ve never been personally, that milk bottle is intriguing enough to make me want to go.

So, did I miss anything? For those who’ve lived in or been to Boston, what are your favorite hidden gems?

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About the Author

Olivia C. Caputo is a Queens-based Spanish to English translator and subtitler, as well as a proud NYCT member. She’s worked on indie films and documentaries as well as content for some of the world’s largest streaming services, with projects ranging from SDH creation, subtitle and dub-script translation, and audio description. She is also branching into literary translation and editing. You can find more of her writing at the ATA Compass and on her blog at occtranslations.com.

Follow Olivia on: linkedin.com/in/olivia-c-caputo/ and occtranslations.com